Wire-stretcher



(No Model.)

G. R. HUGHES.

WIRE STRETGHER.

No. 398,047. Patented Peb.19, 1889.

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ATTORNEYS.

N4 PETERS. Phnloliihognplmr. Wishlrlglnn. no.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE R. HUGHES, OF SAVOY, TEXAS.

WlRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,047, dated February 19, 1889.

Application filed October 1, 1888. Serial No. 286,866. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE ROLAND HUGHES, of Savoy, in the county of Fannin and State of Texas, have in vented a new and Improved Wire-Stretch er, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in wire-stretchers, and has for its object to provide a device of simple and durable construction which may be readily attached to a post and engaged with the wires to be drawn and the said wires expeditiously stretched; and the further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character above set forth which maybe applied with equal convenience to either side of the post.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which similar figures of reference indicate the wire against the post in position for tackoorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the complete device, the relative position of the stretchinglever to the other parts after it has been thrown to the left to stretch the wire and throw it against the post being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the clamping or retaining levers.

The device is constructed entirely of metal,

with the exception of an attached handle, 10. 1

The body 11 of the device is essentially T- shaped, the members 12 and 13, constituting the head, having an inclination in direction of the straight member, as best illustrated in Fig. 1. The said straight member is provided at its extremity with an upwardly-bent hook, 14, approaching in shape a slightly-opened eye, and the inner or under edges of the members 12 and 13, constituting the head of the body, are preferably provided with a series of teeth, 15, the said teeth inclining from the outer extremities of the said members inward.

Upon the straight member of the body a lever, 16, is pivoted, one end whereof, extending outward, constitutes the handle, and the inner end of the said lever, preferably beyond its pivot-a1 point, is cut and bent upon itself to form the spaced and oppositely-disposed upwardly-inclin ed jaws 17, as best illustrated in Fig. 3, the space between the jaws 17 being just sufficient to receive the wire.

A plate, 18, having an enlarged oval end provided with an aperture, 19, in each extremity, is pivoted to the body 11 by a rivet, 22, and between the plate 18 and the body a straight lever, 21, is pivoted to the body by the same rivet, 22. Each of the body members 12 and 13 is provided near the side of the straight member of said body with an aperture, 20, which may be either threaded or plain, and the plate 18 is further attached to said body by passing a bolt, 20, through one of the apertures 19 of the plate and one of the apertures 20 and securing the bolt by a nut; or, if the apertures 20 are threaded, a thumbscrew may be used instead of a bolt. When the plate is secured as shown and the lever 21 is thrown over to the bolt 20 as it will then be past the line of the wire, the tension of the wire will hold the lever in that position, with ing. To the opposite or free end of the lever 21the wooden handle 10 is attached. Between the pivotal point of the lever 21 and the handle a lever, 23, similar to the aforesaid griplever 16, is pivoted, and also provided with clamping-jaws 17. The latter lever, 23, is, however, preferably made to terminate at its free extremity in a hook, 24, as best shown in Fig. 3.

The parts constituting the stretcher are arranged in the drawings in proper position to admit of the member 12 engaging with the post. If it is desired to reverse and use the member 13 011 the opposite side of the post, the bolt 20 is removed and replaced in the other apertures 19 and 20, the lever 21 having first been carried over to the other side or reversed. The levers 16 23 preserve the same position relative to the direction of the wire or body 11, as the position of the lever 21 is alone reversed if the other side of the post is to be engaged.

In operation the wire is passed through the open eye or hook 14 and through the jaws 17 of the lever 16. The lever is then carried around to the left until it is parallel with the body 11, and the wire is bound between the said jaws 17. The entire device is now taken to the post and the member 12 of the device placed in engagement with the same. This having been accomplished, the jaws 17 of the lever 23 are made to engage with the wire, the end of the wire being passed through or supported in the hook 24. The lever 23 is now turned far enough to the left to cause the wire to be bent and firmly grasped by the jaws 17, whereupon the lever 21 is carried to the lett, which draws the wire from the lever 10 and causes the wire to throw said lever 16 into about the position it occupies in Fig. 1. The handle 10 carried over until the lever 21 is brought against the bolt 20 upon the member 11;, whereby it is stopped and great tension is exerted upon the wire and the wire held against the post, as heretofore described. The parts will now be in the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. If a greater tension than has been obtained is desired, the lever 16 is again made to en gage with and clamp the wire, and the haudlell) is carried forward for another draw.

If it found d QSll'flblt, instead of the lovers l0 and lJOlllg' employed, the usual clamp for holdin or retaining the wire may be substituted; but the construction illustrated is p referred.

.l-laving thus (.lescribed my invei'ition, what I claim as new,aud desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device for stretching wire, the combination, with an essentially T-shaped body having the members of the head inclined in direction of the straight member and provided with a series of teeth, of a lever pivoted to the straight member of the body contiguous to the head and clamping-jaws pivoted upon the said lever, substantially as shown and de scribed.

2. In a device for stretching wire, the combination, with an essentially T-shaped body having the members of the head inclined in direction of the straight member and provi ded with a series of teeth, and a hook formed at the extremity of the straight member, of a lever pivoted to the straight member of the body contiguous to the head and clampingjaws pivoted upon the said lever, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a device for stretching wire, the combination, with an essentially T-shaped body having the members of the head inclined in direction of the straight member and toothed upon the inner edge, and the said straight member provided with a hook at th e extremity, of a short lever having clamping-jaws pivoted upon the straight member of the body near the 110015, a lon lever also pivoted to the straight member of the body contiguous to the head, and a second short lever provided with a clamping-jaw at one extremity and a hook at the other pivoted upon the said lon lever, all combined to operate sul'istantially as shown and described.

4. 'In a device for stretching wire, the 0011M bination, with an essentially T-shaped body having the members of the head toothed upon the inner edge and inclined in direction of the extremity of the straight member,

and provided. near the straight member with an aperture, and having a hook integral with the extremity of said. straight member, of a short lever pivoted to the body contiguous to the hook and provided. with clamping-jaws, a plate adjustably attached to the body, a long lever pivoted to the straight member oi the body by the same pivot as 1he adjustable plate, and a second short l0. 1r provided. with clam iing-jaws at one end pivoted upon the said long lever, all ar 'anged to operate substantially as shown and described.

GEORGE E. IlUCrHES.

Witnesses:

PRITCHETT Monrccnnnnv, H. H. ARTERBURY. 

